WWII veteran, former town veterans’ services director
Published in the July 13, 2017 edition
OSTERVILLE, Mass. — Timothy J. Callahan of North Reading and Osterville, formerly of Reading, passed away peacefully July 7, 2017 on Cape Cod, at age 96, surrounded by his family.
Beloved husband of 57 years to Genevieve E. (Lonczak) Callahan; loving father of Timothy J. Callahan Jr. and his wife Marie; devoted grandfather of Julia, Timothy III, and William. He was the brother of the late Dr. Thomas Callahan, Fr. Francis Callahan, S.J., Joseph Callahan, Helen Callahan, and Catherine Stephens.
Born in Providence, R.I. in 1920, he was the son of Timothy E. Callahan of County Cork, Ireland, and Katherine A. Walsh of Boston. Tim was a proud “double Eagle,” a 1938 graduate of Boston College High School and a 1942 graduate of Boston College.
The conflict in Europe soon beckoned, and Tim became a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Air Force during World War II, serving in the Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland campaigns from 1943 – 1945 as a pilot of the B-26 Marauder, a medium tactical bomber.
In total he flew 65 combat missions in the European Theater of WWII, surpassing the usual quota of 25 missions. His many military decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart with 10 oak leaf clusters. At the conclusion of the war Tim was a First Officer with American Airlines for four years, and in 1949 he rejoined the U.S. Air Force until his retirement in 1968.
After the military he embarked on a second career, serving for 34 years as the Director of Veterans Services for the town of North Reading, a position from which he retired at age 89. A passionate advocate for veterans and a staunch supporter of veterans’ issues, he served the town and its veterans with pride.
Possessor of a natural curiosity, he was passionate about subjects he enjoyed, including science, astronomy, aviation, history, the stock market, and jazz music. He was a voracious reader and an avid follower of world events. But his main interest was always his family. He loved to spend time with his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren, regaling them with stories and playing games. He enjoyed traveling to every corner of his native New England, especially his beloved Cape Cod. Many of these loves he passed on to his only son.
His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Friday, July 14 at 9:45 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, July 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Stoneham.
Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the North Reading Veterans Gift Account, a charity benefiting local veterans, care of the Department of Veterans Services, Town Hall, 235 North St., North Reading, MA 01864. www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
